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A normal newborn is a baby born between 37–42 weeks of gestation with appropriate weight for gestational age, stable vital signs, good tone, strong cry, and no major congenital anomalies.

IUGR is a condition where the fetus fails to achieve its expected growth potential, usually defined as fetal weight below the 10th percentile for gestational age.

There are two main types: Symmetrical IUGR (early insult causing proportionate small size) and Asymmetrical IUGR (late placental insufficiency causing head sparing with body wasting).

The ponderal index is calculated as Weight(g) × 100 / Length(cm)^3. It helps differentiate symmetrical and asymmetrical IUGR. A low ponderal index suggests wasting and asymmetrical IUGR.

Antenatal assessment includes fundal height measurement, ultrasound biometry (especially abdominal circumference), amniotic fluid index, Doppler studies of umbilical artery, and biophysical profile monitoring.

Postnatal assessment includes measuring birth weight, length, head circumference, ponderal index, and identifying clinical features such as thin body, reduced fat, and loose skin folds.

Common complications include hypoglycemia, hypothermia, polycythemia, birth asphyxia, increased infection risk, and poor neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Preterm babies are born before 37 weeks and have immature organs, thin skin, weak reflexes, and higher risk of complications, while term babies are born between 37–42 weeks with mature systems.

Complications include respiratory distress syndrome, apnea of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, sepsis, hypoglycemia, and long-term developmental delay.

The APGAR score evaluates newborn condition at 1 and 5 minutes after birth using Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration to assess need for resuscitation.

A score of 7–10 is normal, 4–6 indicates moderate depression, and 0–3 indicates severe depression requiring urgent resuscitation.

Normal newborn vital signs include heart rate 120–160/min, respiratory rate 30–60/min, temperature 36.5–37.5°C, and oxygen saturation above 90% after 10 minutes.

Caput succedaneum is scalp edema caused by pressure during labor. It is present at birth, soft, crosses suture lines, and resolves within 1–2 days.

Cephalhematoma is subperiosteal bleeding over the skull bone. It appears hours after birth, does not cross suture lines, and may cause jaundice due to blood breakdown.

Subgaleal hemorrhage is bleeding between the scalp and skull that crosses suture lines and can rapidly expand, leading to massive blood loss, shock, and life-threatening complications.

Caput is soft, present at birth, and crosses sutures, while cephalhematoma is firm, appears later, and is confined to one skull bone without crossing sutures.

Because it can cause severe blood loss into the scalp space, leading to hypovolemic shock, anemia, and death if not urgently treated.

Normal findings include pink color, strong cry, flexed posture, good tone, intact reflexes (Moro, suck, grasp), soft fontanelle, and symmetrical chest movement.

In asymmetrical IUGR, blood flow is preferentially directed to the brain, preserving head growth while the rest of the body shows growth restriction.

Serial ultrasound growth monitoring combined with Doppler flow studies and biophysical profile is the best approach for severe IUGR surveillance.